title: Predictors of adolescent male body image dissatisfaction: implications for negative health practices and consequences for school health from a regionally representative sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent males are more likely to sustain intentional and unintentional injuries, be involved in a physical confrontation, and be successful in suicide attempts. Body image dissatisfaction (BID) has been linked as a possible contributing factor to these negative health behaviors and risks; however, research is limited with males. The interaction of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social variables in a holistic model has yet to be explored for males. Variables precipitating adolescent males to develop an unhealthy body image and act on negative health behaviors, such as body image drug use, were the impetus for this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized cross-sectional sample of 330 adolescent males answered questions concerning body image using the Adolescent Body Image Satisfaction Scale (ABISS). Pearson product moment correlations and stepwise regression analyses identified the strongest predictive variables of BID.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strongest contributing variables accounting for 56.7% of model variance were desire for the body of another person (r = .571, p < .001), teasing (r = .490, p < .001), satisfaction with their body when they were younger (r = .450, p < .001), and difficulty coping with criticism (r = .443, p < .001). No statistically significant differences were found for racial/ethnic background (p < .822, n.s.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educators and school districts should consider the confluence of psychosocial variables affecting body image and adolescent male health risk behaviors based on a statistically sound predictive model as provided by the ABISS. Targeted programming to enhance body image and address teasing/bullying behaviors is strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement Arts, Health Promotion, and Leisure Studies, Bridgewater State University, 325 Plymouth Street, Adrian Tinsley Center, Room 221, Bridgewater, MA 02325, USA. jleoneatc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Joyce V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fetro
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kittleson
authors.forename: Kathleen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Welshimer
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.forename: Stacia L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000295:instrumentation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires